In moments of high anxiety, the instinct to use knee strikes often arises, especially when faced with a formidable opponent like Wusman, who was nearly bent over in defeat. However, throwing a knee strike while engaging at three points would constitute a serious foul, and Ye Chen was not about to cross that line. After a failed uppercut attempt, he quickly moved in, pressing the back of Wusman's head down with one hand, stabilizing his position to land effective punches while simultaneously preventing Wusman from rising.
At that precise moment, Wusman wrapped his arms around Ye Chen's legs, burying his head into the mat and exerting all his strength to bring Ye Chen down, in a desperate attempt to avoid further strikes. This action temporarily thwarted the barrage of punches Ye Chen unleashed, but it also allowed Wusman to catch his breath, his face hidden beneath Ye Chen's legs as he struggled to alleviate the dizziness clouding his head.
Though this might sound like an opportunity to recover, it was undeniably awkward for Wusman, as he found it difficult to generate any force against Ye Chen's relentless assault. Thus, Ye Chen adapted his strategy, directing a flurry of punches to Wusman's side. The intensity of the moment sent the audience into a frenzy.
After testing the waters in the third round, Ye Chen transitioned seamlessly into a powerful sequence, achieving a spectacular knockout that left spectators stunned. This was unprecedented; Wusman had never before experienced such humiliation in the ring—his previous battles had been marked by undeniable dominance until a shocking last-minute loss.
While the second round showcased a clear victory for Ye Chen, the initial round had been contentious, with neither fighter gaining a definitive upper hand. The result of this match was truly unexpected: an undefeated champion, frightened by a challenger just stepping up to lightweight, was now on the brink of defeat. But that was merely the perspective of casual fans.
Veteran fight analysts were quick to recognize the threat Ye Chen posed after witnessing the second round's unfolding events. They understood that, should Ye Chen employ his effective top cage strategy, Wusman would find himself with few options for escape. Yet variables remained—if Ye Chen were pinned against the cage, he also displayed a conspicuous lack of effective means to counter.
Anticipation grew for the final winners of both fighters in the third round, and then, just moments before the action commenced, the betting odds took a swift turn. Wusman started off favored at -500, while Ye Chen stood at +350. After the first round, those odds shifted to Wusman -700 and Ye Chen +500. By the end of the second round, however, Wusman's standing plummeted to -100 while Ye Chen was at +100. Such alterations indicated that even betting activity sensed Wusman's precarious position.
Ye Chen's aggressive approach and display of dominance exceeded all expectations, largely thanks to his effective cage manipulation during the last round. He had crafted a newfound tactic that would serve him well in the future—should he struggle to take down an opponent, he would simply use the cage to his advantage.
Commentators were ablaze with excitement. DC remarked on Wusman's quick defensive reflexes that just barely saved him from a more swift exit, praising Ye Chen's unpredictability. Logan added his acknowledgment, emphasizing Wusman's current danger, and how the fight would sway based on Ye Chen's ability to win even just one of the upcoming rounds.
Bisping, with his eyes glued to the monitor, pointed out a concerning detail: Wusman now bore visible injuries, with blood seeping from cuts on his face. In the ring, Ye Chen continued his relentless barrage, throwing nearly ten quality punches in a row. It provided Wusman a fleeting moment to regain some composure, but he realized quickly that he needed to escape the punishment he was enduring—the continued assault strained his ribs and sapped his energy tremendously.
With this dire understanding, Wusman suddenly unleashed a burst of energy, launching himself off the ground in a desperate attempt to catch Ye Chen off guard. What Ye Chen had not seen coming was Wusman's swift recovery, as he managed to turn the tables and knock Ye Chen back unexpectedly.
Ye Chen had believed he could capitalize on Wusman's apparent weakness, but the latter's resurgence caught him entirely off guard. Had he been aware of Wusman's imminent revival, perhaps a more strategic approach, like locking Wusman's leg or stacking weight to maintain balance, could have prevented the shift in momentum.
Yet, regret had no place in the ring. As Ye Chen rose, he found Wusman already back on his feet, blood streaming down his chin and forehead from the earlier strikes. Even though the punches had not resulted in any critical damage, they had inflicted enough injury to leave Wusman noticeably disoriented.
The audience reacted in shock as the realization set in—Wusman, typically an indomitable force in the octagon, was now facing something he seldom experienced; vulnerability. Ye Chen pressed forward once more, faking a jab to mislead Wusman before delivering a swift low leg kick.
The impact sent Wusman teetering back, still reeling from the previous onslaught. Though he had regained some composure, it was insufficient to allow for effective evasion. In an instinctive move, Wusman opted for a final desperate tactic: to dive at Ye Chen in an effort to wrap his arms around him, recognizing that standing was no longer a viable option.
As Wusman lunged to capture Ye Chen's legs, Ye Chen felt his balance shift precariously. He quickly jumped on one leg to steady himself, immediately shifting his grip to counter Wusman's attempt, aiming to secure a chokehold to minimize Wusman's movement.
Despite Wusman's quick response, standing while being choked proved incredibly challenging, and he struggled to regain control of the exchange. In the midst of this clash, Ye Chen pounced on an opportunity to land a definitive elbow strike.
However, the intricacies of their movements found Ye Chen slightly off-balance as he navigated Wusman's advances. With a skillful twist, Wusman aimed to use the force of his elbow to establish dominance, but Ye Chen had already reacted instinctively, ducking to avoid the blow.
Just then, Ye Chen's shoulder slipped firmly under Wusman's armpit, and as he stood tall, it became evident that Ye Chen had the upper hand, preparing for the next decisive move.
*PS: For the time being, six chapters a day will be released. Though the current batch may appear limited, the overall word count exceeds that of the previous three chapters, allowing readers to enjoy more content at a reduced cost for subscriptions.*
*The accompanying image depicts a classic defensive posture to evade strikes after being caught off guard. Special thanks to Usman Kahuang for the generous inspiration.*